Jim was already waiting at the airport when we arrived.
He immediately stepped forward, greeted me, and took my luggage to the car while Jane and Henry got into another vehicle sent by Aurelius Technology.
I sat quietly in the back seat, watching the city through the window.
It had only been a week.
Yet somehow, Velaridge City felt unfamiliar.
The familiar sense of warmth I used to feel whenever I returned from a business trip was gone.
Back then, I would always look forward to coming home.
No matter how exhausting the trip had been, the moment I returned, a sense of calm would settle over me.
Especially whenever I stepped into the villa.
But today, even after arriving, I felt nothing.
Only emptiness.
The car eventually pulled into the driveway.
I stepped out and walked into the villa.
The living room was silent.
Too silent.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the familiar space.
Then a bitter smile tugged at my lips.
